The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-05
AN ExILED MILLIONAIRE.
How Mr.. Corcoran's HON was Saved
from ConfScation.


timore american says: At the outbreak of
the war, as is well known, Mr.. Corcoran's
sympathies were with the South, the consc-
quence of which, not wishing to actively
Identify himself with the cause, he decided
TO 60 abroad, which he consequently did,
remaining there until the close of the long
struggle. At last, after peace was restored,
Mr.. Corcoran returned from his wanderings
in foreign lands, and, with the exception of
a few short journeys and the annual summer
visit to the White Sulphur Springs, he has
remained quietly at his beautiful home in
this city. When he determined to go
abroad he placed his house in the
hands of an agent, with instructions
to use every possible means to pre-
vent its confiscation by the government, for
the move was so sudden there had been no
time to remove any of the elegant furniture,
hangings and works of art for which it had
long been justly celebrated. One morning
shortly after this the agent in whose hands
the house had been LEFT, learned to his conster-
nation that orders had been issued to the
medical corps Of the army to take posses
sion of it on Monday morning, the intelli-
gence reaching him Saturday. AT this
time NJ. Montholon, the French minister,
who came to this country from the court of
Macmillan, was looking about for suita-
Bile residence for the legation. Hearing of
this fortunate combination of circumstan-
ceS, the agent at once fastened to the minis
ter, and after presenting the exact state of
the case, offered him the house upon such
advantageous conditions that the bargain
was at once ratified. Sunday morning it
was with genuine surprise that church goers,
en- common with other pedestrians, no
ticed the French flag flying from Mr..
CorcOran's house, when the matter of its
intended confScation was already an open
secret. The authorities were at once ap-
prised of the fact, and Secretary Seward,
after conference with the President, sent
request to NJ Montholon for an imme-
date audience. Polite and smiling, the
French Minister responded to the SUMMONS.
During the interview the Secretary of State
became greatly excited over the way affairs
had been managed, and when M. Montholon
calmly remarked that, in view of the fact
that the French flag floated over the house,
there could be no further question of CON
fiscation, he blazed forth hotly, demanding
whether the French flag was broad enough
to cover such a daring act as to take posses
sion of a house which had already been con-
fiscated by the government. Drawing him
self to his full height, NJ. Montholon replied
in a dignifed emphatic manner: "The
French flag may not be broad enough, Mr..
Secretary, but Napoleon is"
In February, 1886, when Gen. Grant was
stationed in Washington as commanding
General of the army, the French Minister,
who still occupied the Corcoran house as the
legation, issued invitations for the most
magnificent ball which has probably ever
been given in Washington, and which, in
point of lavish expenditure and elegance,
rivaled any of the most noted state enter
tainments at foreign courts. Stories of the
famous Montholon ball remain as fresh in
the minds of those who attended as though
l. 81 I,.,A .,y,l.
Minister, with his wife, the Marquise de
Montholon, and her mother, Mrs. Gratriot,
received the guests in the library
of the mansion, the art gal
lery having for the evening been con-
verted into a ballroom, at one end
of which, in a deep recess hung with
crimson velvet, stood the famous statue of
the ''Greek Slave" by Powers. The ball
was given by the order of Louis Napoleon,
in consequence of which the French ship,
then lying at Annapolis, was ordered up that
her officers might attend the entertainment
The city was teeming with officers Of the
United States army, all of those invited on
this occasion appearing in full uniform,
which added immeasurably to the brilliancy
of the occasion. The Marquise de MOntho-
lon wore magnificent dress, covered with
ieweled fieur-de-lis, ordered from Paris for
this ball, while across her breast, which was
ablaze with Jewels were the Order of Napo-
leon and that of the house of Montholon
1t is seldom that at any entertain
ment are gathered so many distinguished
parsons as We're present on that occasion.
There were then present, as Brides two
women whose names are conspicuous, not
only in this country, but abroad-Mrs.
Kate Chase Sprague. whose brunette beauty
was set off to best advantage by dress of
white MORE striped with green, while an
antique tiara of emeralds and diamonds
sparKled in her dark hair. The other bride
was the wife of Gen. Williams, of the army,
and the former widow of Stephen A. Doug
lass She wore her wedding gown of white
silk covered with tulle, with strands of pearls
about her throat and i'll her blonde hair
The programme of the ball was to have
had the cotillon danced at 2 o'clock, but
owing to the immense crowd-a large por-
ton of which, it was thought, were unin-
vited-which surged through the rooms, it
was impossible to begin before 5 o'clock
a. M, from which it lasted until S o'clock,
when breakfast was served to O few
specially invited guests. The cotillon was
lei by Sir Frederick Bruce, at that time
Minister from the Court of st. james, and
man of handsome physique and bearing.
Gen. Grants partner was Miss Harris, who
had been one of the party in the box with
President Lincoln the night of his assassi-
nation, and who subsequently married Col.
Rathbone, only to meet her tragic death at
his hands few years since while living
abroad.
A good story in connection with this ball,
which has not heretofore appeared In print,
was told by the minister to Gen. Grant, who
enjoyed it none the less heartily because it
was at his expense. NJ Montholon, being
warm personal friend and admirer of Gen.
Grant issued orders to his steward at the
outset of the ball that the General was to be
treated as a special guest of honor, and the
best wine that the cellars afforded placed at
his disposal. The next day the steward
approached the minister in great
perplexity and inquired in an amazed
way who was this Gen. Grant to
whom he was to give the best of every
thing and who had shown himself so far APP
preciative of the honor accorded that he
had called for no less than sixteen bottles of
champagne, nine bottles of brandy, and
whisky ad infinitum. The explanation
which shortly transpired was that the order
having been overheard by party of young
fellows, they took advantage of the stew
ards credulity, prefacing every demand for
the choicest liquors with the magic an
nouncement that it was for Gen. Grant.
From which it would seem that Shake
speares famous query, whats in a name"
found herein a fitting answer.